In the midst of the wildfires raging through the Central Okanagan in August, came visits by B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 premier and the prime minister.
Premier David Eby toured areas devastated by the McDougall Creek, Walroy Lake, and Clarke Creek wildfires by helicopter on Aug. 22.
香蕉视频直播淭he devastation for families who have lost everything, homes burned to the ground, will be some time recovering, for community members and so many affected individuals,香蕉视频直播� the premier said during a news conference.
Eby, who was joined by Emergency Minister Bowin Ma, Forests Minister Bruce Ralston, and Federal Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan, also visited Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna, the reception centre for those evacuated due to the McDougall Creek fire.
Reporters asked Eby several times what the province was doing to clear the backlog of evacuees waiting for accommodation and support.
香蕉视频直播淚t is absolutely unacceptable that people would have to wait and I香蕉视频直播檝e made that very clear to staff,香蕉视频直播� Eby said.
The premier noted that approximately 30,000 people were put on evacuation notice in a 24-hour period.
Three days later (Aug. 25), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an unannounced visit to West Kelowna, meeting with firefighters, city officials, and the media.
香蕉视频直播淭his has been an extraordinarily difficult summer for so many Canadians from coast to coast to coast as communities have been hit with wildfires, extreme weather events on top of all the other economic events people are facing,香蕉视频直播� Trudeau said during a news conference at Fire Hall 33.
The prime minister took a question from an individual who had been evacuated about where the money would come from so that people and communities could rebuild.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e seeing more and more intense weather events, insurance is going to get more difficult for people to obtain, even for those who can obtain it and we know that falls on all of us to be there to help communities and individuals who香蕉视频直播檝e lost everything, having to rebuild,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Trudeau did not announce any funding or programs to help those affected by the wildfires during his visit.
However, on Aug. 18 Sajjan did offer the federal government香蕉视频直播檚 support to those impacted by the wildfires.
In September, the B.C. government announced that municipalities and First Nations could apply for disaster financial assistance to help cover some uninsured wildfire losses.
The McDougall Creek wildfire in the Central Okanagan caused $480 million in insurable damages, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
So far this year the province has spent more than $770 million fighting wildfires.
